September 1, 2000Psychosomatic Medicine1,063 citations
View Full PaperExercise Treatment for Major Depression: Maintenance of Therapeutic Benefit at 10 Months
Key Result
Aerobic exercise yielded significantly lower depression relapse rates at 10 months compared to sertraline (p=0.01), and continued exercise reduced depression probability (OR 0.49, p=0.0009).
Study Design
Type
RCT (n=156)
Structured PICO
Does aerobic exercise reduce depression relapse rates in adults with major depressive disorder compared to sertraline?
P
Population
156 adult volunteers with major depressive disorder (MDD)
I
Intervention
4-month course of aerobic exercise, sertraline therapy, or a combination of exercise and sertraline
C
Comparator
Compared against each other (exercise vs sertraline vs combination)
O
Outcome
Presence and severity of depression assessed by Diagnostic Interview Schedule, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD), and Beck Depression Inventory at 10 monthspatient reported
Exercise therapy is a feasible treatment for major depressive disorder that may offer lower relapse rates at 10 months compared to sertraline, particularly when exercise is maintained.
Main Result
p-value: p=0.01
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the status of 156 adult volunteers with major depressive disorder (MDD) 6 months after completion of a study in which they were randomly assigned to a 4-month course of aerobic exercise, sertraline therapy, or a combination of exercise and sertraline. METHODS: The presence and severity of depression were assessed by clinical interview using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) and by self-report using the Beck Depression Inventory. Assessments were performed at baseline, after 4 months of treatment, and 6 months after treatment was concluded (ie, after 10 months). RESULTS: After 4 months patients in all three groups exhibited significant improvement; the proportion of remitted participants (ie, those who no longer met diagnostic criteria for MDD and had an HRSD score <8) was comparable across the three treatment conditions. After 10 months, however, remitted subjects in the exercise group had significantly lower relapse rates (p = .01) than subjects in the medication group. Exercising on one's own during the follow-up period was associated with a reduced probability of depression diagnosis at the end of that period (odds ratio = 0.49, p = .0009). CONCLUSIONS: Among individuals with MDD, exercise therapy is feasible and is associated with significant therapeutic benefit, especially if exercise is continued over time.